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Isaac Lewis - Tom Russell

Isaac Lewis

View chords used in this chart

CAPO: 3

Intro: G

verse 1

C G

My name is Isaac Lewis, I'm an able-bodied man

Am D

On the ship the Royal Charter, bound off for Van Diemen's Land

G C

Oh, the sea that took six months to cross, we could do in two

Bm Am D

So it's up that Mersey River, out of Liverpool we flew

verse 2

G C

And some of us were sailors, all hardy, young and old

Bm C D

And some of us were pioneers, bound off for the gold

G C

There were merchants and musicians, Christian soldiers of the cross

Bm Am D

We stared into that foamy sea, saw our dreams there in the broth

[Refrão]

G C D G

Sail on, sail on and on and on

C Bm Am G

My name is Isaac Lewis, this shall be my song

verse 3

C G

So we landed there in Botany Bay, and the boys went on the town

Am D

And I met a girl named Emma Gray, I loved her up and down

G C

And I swore that I'd return for her, one more tour at sea

Bm Am D

But I had to tell my father what he meant to me

verse 4

G C

For every night, I dreamed a dream, as the wind swept through the sails

Bm C D

That I was in my father's house, back in northern Wales

G C

And I reached out for my father, I said, "I love you very much,"

Bm Am D

But the ship rolled o'er and the dream was drowned before we got to touch

[Refrão]

G C D G

Sail on, sail on and on and on

C Bm Am G

My name is Isaac Lewis, this shall be my song

Verse 5

C G

So I kissed the lips of Emma Gray and set sail for Liverpool

Am D

And the parrots perched in the riggings, boys and the dolphins swam in schools

G C

Our trip, it was a pleasant one, till we reached the coast of Wales

Bm Am D

And one day out from Liverpool, god unleashed a gale

Verse 6

G C G

Good lord, I've seen some squalls, me boys and hurricanes at sea

Am D

And many nights I'd rediscovered, faith on bended knee

G C

But I never seen it blow so hard, we anchored her at last

Bm Am D

But the waves rolled o'er the top of us, we had to cut the mast

Verse 7

G C G

And all the mining magnates clutched their gold, believing they'd be saved

Am D

But their bloody greed destroyed them first, beneath the angry waves

G C

All the women and the children, lost to eternity

Bm Am D

Ah, man has tamed and shaped the land, he'll never tame the sea

Verse 8

G C

And every night I had dreamed a dream, as the wind swept through the sails

Bm Am D

That I was in my father's house, back in northern Wales

G C

And I reached for my father, I said, "I love you very much,"

Bm Am D

But the ship rolled o'er and the dream was drowned before we got to touch

[Refrão]

G C D G

Sail on, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm

C Bm Am G

hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm

Verse 9

C G

We were caught upon the rocks, just ten yards from the shore

Am D

And we saw men standing on the rocks, maybe three or more

G C

And I swear I saw my father waving at me through the squall

Bm Am D

And I screamed that I was coming home, that's all that I recall

verse 10

G C G

For the waves they swept me overboard with the broken mast and sails

Bm C D

And I drowned, where as a child I'd fished, on the rocks of northern Wales

G C

And in three days time I washed up on the whitened sandy shore

Bm Am D

One hundred yards from Moelfre and my father's white oak door

[Refrão]

G C D G

Sail on, sail on and on and on

C Bm Am G

My name is Isaac Lewis, this shall be my song

verse 11

C G

And some will shout coincidence, or say this can't be true

Am D

I only say, just tell your loved ones what they mean to you

G C

For you shall sail the seas of life, pursuing golden schemes

Bm Am D

Yet, drown so closely to your home, the cradle of your dreams

[Refrão]

G C D G

Sail on, sail on and on and on

C Bm Am G

My name is Isaac Lewis and this has been my song

C Bm Am G

My name is Isaac Lewis and this has been my song

How to play Isaac Lewis

Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.

What is the starting chord?

The first identified chord is G. You can transpose without leaving the page.

Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?

Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.

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